And if he wasn’t at 112 pitches and there weren’t pitch counts on young guys, he just might could have repeated Kerry Wood’s 20K game from 1998.
Looking at the box score, it took place at Wrigley, 1:20 PM, on a Wednesday. I swear I saw it – either school was out already or I stayed home that day or – maybe even – my memory remembers what it wants to and I saw a re-broadcast.
Kerry threw 122 pitches and 3 guys wore the sombrero – Bagwell, Jack Howell (who I don’t even remember – he played 3B – and those 3 Ks were 3 of his 42 PA for the Astros in ’98) and Mo Alou. Ricky Gutierriez, our crappy SS, got the only hit, and IF roller. One balk, one HBP (yeah, you guessed who.)
I don’t remember why Sean Berry, the regular 3B and his 895 OPS or why Dave Clark and his .547 OPS was in the OF instead of Carl Everett and his .850 OPS – maybe it was just a getaway day and regulars were getting some rest – youneverknow.
But people don’t remember that Shane Reynolds pitched a great game – a complete game, too – 8 IP, with 1 UER on a double and a sac-fly/throwing error by Dave Clark and an earned run on 2 singles and a RBI groundout: total of 8 H, 2 BB, 10 K. Good enough to win – but not that day.
Today, 3 guys wore the sombrero – Corporan, Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace – but Hanson only Kd them twice (relievers finshed em off).
You know it was a bad day when Matt Downs batted third.
You know it was a bad day when Michael Bourn didn’t even reach base.
You know it was a day to be expected when the starting pitcher gave up 2 more homers, including his NL leading 17th. Both homers, by the way, came after a walk.
Clank is driving up his trade value – today, he drove in the Astros only run. Ownership won’t stand in the way of any trade, sez The Media. You betcha they won’t stand in the way of dumping Clank. Unfortunately, the ol WB isn’t gonna be traded because he’s pitching lousy – 5.03 ERA = 73 ERA+ with a 1.45 WHIP which, this year, when the average NL starter’s ERA is like 3.80, means forget him and his 10 mill a year for 3 years salary going anywheres, too bad.
Bourgeois’ ankle is supposedly bothering him – hope it was just today, and he doesn’t have to go back on the DL. Fast Eddie would probably do something stupid, like bring up Anderson Hernandez…
Wandy pitches tomorrow – Fulchino is getting sent down – which is good, because either he’s still hurt or he’s just lousy. I was worried that they were gonna send down Fernando Rodriguez, because he has the least seniority, but he threw 2 great innings today. Lyon is even more lousy, but he’s making more money, so he’s not goin nowheres. Wilton Lopez is smart enough to let OTHER guys’ runners score, so he’s keeping the ERA low and he’s not going anywheres for right now.
He’s facing Derek Lowe again – last time out, Wandy threw 8 scoreless, Melancon was brought in for the save – he blew it and Fulchino lost it (Brian McCann homered twice. That guy killz us like Chipper killt the 99 Mets – only the 99 Mets were actually a good team back then).
Lowe is a sinkerballer, so hopefully there won’t be all those sombreros floating around tomorrow. Like most other starting pitchers, he has an ERA in the 3s this year – 3.73 over 80 IP in 14 GS with a 1.21 WHIP and a .243 BAA.
Tags: Atlanta Braves, Braves, Houston Astros, MLB
You were right, the Braves “kilt” us. The might have the BEST team, with the
best farm in baseball. They have about 50 pitchers(just kidding) waiting to be called up! If the Braves ever found a couple of power arms to go with their pitching staff……..they would be unstoppable! They are a shining example of how to “grow your own” ball club. Brandon Lyon knows he needs surgery, and he also knows that would end his career. So what’s Ed Wade gonna do? Keep him in the bull pen, until we have a 20 run lead. Becky:(
Why Lyles is the No.1 prospect I don’t understand, to me he’s just another Brett Myers (not wife beating, but pitching performance-wise). I know most people wouldn’t agree, but I think he’ll have a career ERA of 4.20 or more, an end-of-rotation guy.
Elmer, you need to watch him pitch. He’s got excellent mechanics and top line stuff; it’s just not quite under control yet. Normally, he wouldn’t even be in the Majors at this age but the ‘stros are so bad he’s here now. Give him another year or two to get his control smoothed and work on his mental consistency, and he could be a #1 or #2 starter.
Steve – I don’t see Lyles as a possible No. 1 or 2 starter, at least not on a good team. He doesn’t have great velocity, and his minor league numbers are only so-so when compared to other pitchers who went on to become No. 1 or 2 starters. A good No. 3 is probably the best expectation.
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Lisa – On Twitter, Maury Brown said to look for a big Jim Crane piece at Forbes today, but nothing has appeared as of 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Steve, it would be great if Lyles turns out to be another Maddux with superb control, and yes he still can be better, but watching his performance so far his stuff isn’t that great. His fastball isn’t heavy enough to get lots of ground outs, his breaking pitches look solid, but not nasty. If he keeps pitching like this he’ll probably have a similar career numbers like Brett Myers, a No. 5 pitcher in ALE or a No. 3 at best in NLC.
I’m also not impressed with Wallace, either. He’s still hitting .300+, but he’ll cool down soon or later with possibly 15 HR/season. A single hitter who can’t run or field like Ichiro and can’t hit for power as a first baseman is not the answer as the right replacement for Berkman, but let him play as long as he is producing. I want to see Bourgeois getting more playing time without benching Keppinger, which means Carlos Lee should play more first base (too bad he can’t be benched) so Bourgeois can play LF more often.
Okay, I agree that Lyles is probably going to end up being a #3 or #4, but I think he has upside to be a #2. It depends on his control and mental makeup. But it won’t happen if he gets no run support and is constantly under pressure to be perfect.
As for Wallace, he’s not currently the bopper he needs to be to justify his sloth-like gait and indifferent defense. However, I’d like to see him play long enough to see the pitchers adjust to him, and then see if he adjusts back. If he can, he may have a nice and steady though unspectacular career.
While none of these guys excite me, neither do our best guys. Pence, who plays hard, and is very good, but not the $10M-$12M player he’s about to become. He’d be much better in a lineup with one or two big mashers. Bourn, who I love to watch play D and is exciting on the basepaths, will command too high a price given that his speed with decrease and his hitting is okay but not awesome. And those are our best guys.
Basically, this team is mediocre at best and about to get a lot worse. I expect the payroll to drop to $60M or so over the next couple of years. the new ownership will probably say something about spending money on rebuilding through the draft, but let’s not kid ourselves — we’re about to become a permanent second (third?) class team for the foreseeable future.
!997-2006 was nice, but it was an anomaly and it will be a long time before that happens again.
Oh, and if we switch to the AL, I’m done with Houston and baseball.
Now Maury says his Jim Crane piece will run tomorrow at Forbes. Hope it’s not being lawyered to death.
i SWEAR that me n steve are 2 different people.
agree that pence and bourn will soon be playing somewhere else. agreee that the payroll is gonna drop – and if crane gets the team, it’s gonna be lower than 60 mill
agree that wallace is no berkman. amazing how so many astros fans have no respect for his career and prefer to think of him as fat and lazy
as for lyles,
well, usually when 20 year olds are called up they are doc gooden type great – or the team is teh sukc and SOMEbody gotta throw the ball (jeremy bonderman and the 03 tigres)
- the guy was rushed thru the majors (like castro) so fast eddie can thump his chest about how great the minor league system is doing look at all the guys who are soaring thru and he’s promoting.
i hate to judge a 20 year old guy’s “potential” and just hope he’s just shown the tip of the iceberg of how good he can be.
AND if he struggles, i hope he don’t get written off too soon – look at wandy 06. look at bud norris last year – how many fans wanted him sent back to AAA/DFA/put in the bullpen for mopup work
bourgeois SHOULD be getting more PT, but he won’t because fast eddie wants clint barmes playing and besides, kepp is a HORRIBLE SS